A section of artists in Embu County has raised concerns over being sidelined from Deputy President Kithure Kindiki’s engagement forum with creatives from Embu, Meru, and Tharaka Nithi counties.
The meeting, held yesterday at Irunduni in Tharaka Nithi, brought together more than 500 creatives to explore opportunities in the arts sector and ways the government can boost support for the industry.
However, some Embu artists who missed out claim they were never notified of the event and only discovered it after it had concluded. They accuse organizers of running a non-transparent selection process that locked out many active voices.
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Speaking on behalf of the aggrieved group, United Artists Community-Based Organization chairman Kirungo wa Kivango, popularly known as Masang’i, described the exclusion as discriminatory.
“We support the Deputy President’s initiative to empower creatives, but the process must be inclusive. Many of us were left out without any communication, yet we represent active voices in Embu’s art scene,” he said.
The artists are now demanding fair representation and a clear communication framework to ensure all stakeholders in the county’s creative industry are involved in future engagements.
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